A/N: Oh, yeah! After encountering writer's block, here is the 24th chapter!
***: The thing is this chapter is shorter than the last one…
Empyrea: Ahhh…who cares! Let's just get on the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 24: The Truth
Things have definitely gone haywire. First, Metis runs away, who-knows-why, then, they suddenly realized that even if they all have summoned Minato's Persona, they still weren't able to bring him back. With Aigis wanting to go after Metis, and Yukari wanting to search Empyrean, they thought it would be best if they split up at the moment. So, Aigis, together with Ken and Koromaru, is now in front of the Door of Judecca…
Aigis: "I'm coming…Metis…" *opens the Door of Judecca*
They enter Judecca, meanwhile, on Yukari's side, Yukari, together with Mitsuru, Akihiko and Junpei, is in front of the Door of Empyrean…
Yukari: "I won't let you down." *opens the Door of Empyrean*
They enter Empyrean, back to Aigis' side in Judecca…
Aigis: *looks around* …
Fuuka: How are you all doing?
Ken: We're fine. This place seems pretty normal, so far.
Fuuka: That's good, then.
Ken: Do you feel anything, senpai?
Fuuka: Give me a moment. I'll scan the areas ahead. I'll contact you as soon as I sense something.
Ken: Thank you, senpai.
Aigis: Something does not feel right…
Ken: *looks around* … *turns to Aigis* What's wrong?
Aigis: *cautiously looking around* It's too silent… I feel anxious about the atmosphere.
Ken: Really?
Koromaru: *walks forward* Arf! Arf!
Ken: What's wrong, Koro-chan? *walks towards Koromaru* …!!! Senpai!
Aigis: *turns to Ken* What's wrong?
Ken: *points at a silhouette from quite a distance in front of him* Is that-
Aigis: It's no Shadow… I can feel it. …!!! Metis! Is that you?
Silhouette: …
Aigis: Metis! *runs towards the silhouette*
Ken: Senpai! Wait! *runs after Aigis*
Kormaru: Arf! Arf! *runs after Aigis and Ken*
Aigis: Wait! *stops after reaching a point near the silhouette* I wish to ask you something. Please, listen to me.
Silhouette: There's nothing to know… Sister…
Aigis: Metis!
Metis: *shows herself* I must find the answer. Don't follow me anymore! *runs further into Judecca*
Aigis: "Why?! Why do you push me away?"
Ken: We have to go after her!
Fuuka: What happened? I suddenly felt a strange familiar presence, and then-
Ken: That must have been Metis, senpai…
Fuuka: …! What? You found her?!
Ken: Yes… But, she ran away again.
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Aigis: *looking at her feet and is in deep thought* …
Ken: *turns to Aigis* Aigis-san?
Aigis: Let's follow her.
They ran deeper into Judecca in order to catch up to Metis, meanwhile, in Empyrean; things aren't exactly a walk in the park for Yukari and the others…
Junpei: *calls Yukari in a cheerful manner* Hey! Yuka-tan!
Yukari: *keeps walking forward* What?
Junpei: Are we lost?
Yukari: No.
Junpei: Hey, Yuka-tan~!
Yukari: *stops walking and turns to Junpei with an irritated face* What?!
Junpei: Face it! We're lost!
Yukari: No, we're not. That's impossible.
Junpei: *snaps at Yukari* How can that be impossible?! Look around you! This-is-a-maze!
Mitsuru: Correction, Iori. This is a labyrinth.
Junpei: *looks at Mitsuru* Lobby- what? *looks at Yukari* Anyhow, we're clearly lost in this lobby- ugh!
Yukari: *snaps at Junpei* We're not lost!
Junpei: *glares at Yukari* If this thing ain't a lobby-whatever, then, it's clearly a maze!
Mitsuru: *sighs* It's a labyrinth, Iori.
Yukari: How do you know that, huh?! STUPEI!
Junpei: Stop calling me that!
Yukari: No way! We're not even lost! STUPEI!
Junpei: That's the second time! I resent that!
Yukari: Ugh! Just shut up, Stupei!
Junpei: HEY!
Akihiko: *sweatdrops* Umm… Yukari… I know that what you think is what you believe… But, not facing reality… That's-
Yukari: *turns to Akihiko* What?! Got something to say, senpai?!
Akihiko: *looks away * Nope. Not a thing.
Yukari: Good. Then let's continue on. *turns around and starts walking again*
Junpei: *talks to himself, out loud* Shit. Now, we're really going to be even more lost…
Yukari: *stops walking* …
Junpei: Hey look, senpai! *turns to Akihiko* Isn't that Messa? *points to Messiah*
Akihiko: *steps back* Uhh… Be careful?
Mitsuru: *steps back* It's Messiah, Iori.
Junpei: *looks at Mitsuru* What's that?
Yukari: Megidolaon!
While Junpei eats Yukari's wrath, we go back to Judecca, where Aigis, Ken and Koromaru are still chasing after Metis…
Aigis: *running* "It's really too quiet… I don't understand… What is this feeling?"
Ken: *points to Metis* Over there! I see her!
Koromaru: *runs ahead* Arf! Arf!
Aigis: Be careful, Koromaru-san.
Koromaru: *growls*
Aigis: "I wonder what we'll see when reach what's up ahead…"
Ken: Koro-chan?
Koromaru: *a few ways ahead* Arf! Arf!
Ken: Did Koro-chan stop?
Aigis: He says to come quickly.
Ken: There he is. *stops in front of Koromaru* …!
Aigis: Metis! *sees something behind Metis* …!!! A door?
Metis: *opens the door* …
Aigis: What is-?
The door opens for Metis and they were transported to the place where Minato's battle with Nyx took place, and an unexpected event played itself before them…
Minato: *standing in front of Nyx with his finger pointed towards her*
Aigis: …!!! Is that-
Ken: When he…went off to fight Nyx.
Metis: He didn't fight Nyx.
Aigis & Ken: …!!!
Aigis: Metis? What is this?
Metis: Allow me to explain.
Meanwhile, in Empyrean, Yukari and the others are witnessing the very same scene that Aigis and the rest are seeing…
Yukari: Minato?!
Mitsuru: Why is-?
Akihiko: This time was when…!
Junpei: I hear voices…
Yukari: Is this-? …!!! Metis' voice?!
Others: …!!!
Mitsuru: Metis?! I thought she was missing!
Junpei: What's going on?!
Meanwhile, back to Judecca, where Aigis and the others are...
Aigis: What do you mean? Answer me!
Metis: You see…
Minato was engulfed by light and darkness, and then, what they saw after that, was a statue that looks exactly like Minato, tied to a giant door-like wall…
Ken: What is that?
Metis: The Great Seal…
Aigis: Great Seal?
Metis: Yes. The seal "he" made with "his" own life essence…so that mankind's wishes will never reach Nyx.
Aigis: What?!
Metis: You see… Nyx brings about The Fall when people seek for judgment.
Aigis: Judgment? Do you mean…Death?
Metis: Yes. For when humans lose hope and the will to live…they seek death. Even if they don't know about it…their hearts do.
Aigis: That's-
Ken: Dying, huh…
Metis: That's life. All things die… That's why the Great Seal…prevents the accumulated malice of all living beings from touching Nyx.
Aigis: Do you mean… That the seal was not meant for Nyx?
Metis: That is correct. That is why "he" did that.
Aigis: Death…
Metis: Sister…
Aigis: *looks at Metis* …
Metis: I don't think he has any regrets… He said: I made it that day… That's all that matters…
Aigis: Why?
Metis: Sister…
Aigis: Why did I not protect him…? I…I'm worthless… I could not even feel the pain he felt… I… *tears started to fall from Aigis' eyes*
Metis: *wipes away her tears* You've learned how to cry… He was right… Please don't follow me, anymore… *steps away for Aigis* I don't want to hurt any of you further… Goodbye… Sister… *runs away*
Ken: *extends out his hand to Metis* Wait!
Aigis: Ken… Wait…
Ken: *turns to Aigis* What is it, Aigis-san?
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Aigis: *lowers her head* I'm sorry… I can't…
Ken: *smiles* It's okay. We'll catch up with her later. Let's rest here.
Aigis: …Thank you.
Back in Empyrean, Yukari and the others were also in shock from what they have found out…
Yukari: That's-
Mitsuru: How could this have happened…? We…?
Akihiko: We were also the…cause of his…
Junpei: He…did that for us?
Akihiko: *punches a wall near him* Dammit!
Mitsuru: *puts her hand on Akihiko's shoulder* Akihiko… Even I…
Yukari: No regrets… I…
Mitsuru: We…
Junpei: Why, man?! Why did you that?!
Yukari: NO!
Others: *quickly looks at Yukari* …!!!
Mitsuru: …Takeba?
Junpei: Yuka-tan…
Yukari: *clenches her hands* We can't let this bring us down!
Others: …!!!
Yukari: We… *shakes her head* No… I know he wasn't contented!
Mitsuru: *lowers her head* But…Takeba…Metis just said…
Yukari: I don't care! Even if he was, then, I'm not! *lowers her head* I want to know why… *looks at them* I want to know what his answer to life was!
Others: …!!!
Mitsuru: *smiles* You're right, Takeba. I'm sorry… I had a brief moment of weakness… I cannot let this be the reason of our downfall!
Akihiko: *smiles* Yeah… Besides, now that we know, then all the more reason we have to save him.
Junpei: Right! If we were one of the reasons he did that, then…we just have to be stronger!
Yukari: *nods* I agree. If that malice for death…was also our wishes…then, we have to stop this! Let's find him!
Mitsuru: I'm with you, Takeba.
Akihiko: You got it!
Junpei: Count me in!
Yukari: Let's go! *turns around* …!!!
Mitsuru: What's wrong, Takeba?
Yukari: Messiah?! I-I didn't call you… Wait… Minato?!
Junpei: *looks around* Huh? Where?
Messiah moves forward, deeper into the labyrinth of Empyrean…
Yukari: *extends out her hand to Messiah* Wait! …!!! *gasps*
Suddenly, who she sees is no longer Messiah, but, Minato, running further in…
Yukari: *turns to the others* Let's go this way. *points in the direction Minato ran off to*
Junpei: Are you sure?
Yukari: Trust me! He's leading us. *runs off*
Others: …!!!
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
A/N: Awwwww… Yukari-chan's so sweet…
***: She's having her moment, so let's leave her be...We'll update as soon as we can… So…Ciao!